A DARING duo from Warwickshire are journeying 10,000 miles through desert and mountain ranges with just an old ambulance for company.

Antiques dealer David Cunningham, 62, and hot air balloon pilot Mark Stevens, 57, are embarking on a perilous journey to Mongolia for the Mongol Rally.

They are raising money for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, which supports abandoned children in Mongolia, and Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

David, 62, of Shipston-on-Stour and Mark, 57, of Warwick, will be completely unsupported on their journey to the Mongolia capital Ulan Bator.

The adventurers will tackle the mammoth journey in a decommissioned ambulance which has just a 1.2 litre engine – as stipulated by rally rules.

The journey will take about six weeks and will see them travel through Europe and Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Siberia and finally into Mongolia where they will meet up with other challengers in their own clapped out vehicles.

“I’m not really apprehensive about the journey itself, more about what we could potentially face along the way,” David said.

“It can take a long time to get across some borders so negotiating skills are important but I’m sure we will meet a lot of nice and interesting people along the way who will only be too happy to help us.

“There has been a lot of paperwork and administration in terms of obtaining visas and so on so now I am really just looking forward to getting in the ambulance and actually doing it.”

Part of the journey will see them cross mountain ranges as high as 16,000 feet. Their old ambulance – which has already clocked up more than 160,000 miles – has been fitted with a long-distance fuel tank as well as heat protection, a new engine and clutch.

The pair have already received a £800 donation from Leamington and Coventry-based financial experts Harrison Beale and Owen for their journey which starts on July 24.

Tracey Hackett, director of HB&O’s finance team, said: “It is difficult to comprehend the scale of challenges David and Mark will be undertaking.”